Clutch mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism is provided for selectively engaging and disengaging the auxiliary long hair trimmer of an electric dry shaver to the shaver drive means. The long hair trimmer, which is driven by the same source as is the main shaving head of the shaver, may be engaged or disengaged at any time whether or not the shaver is energized.

United States Patent Crookes 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] CLUTCH MECHANISM 3,440,724 4/1969 Wich ..30/34.l

[72] Inventor: Le Roy W. Crookes, East Brunswick, NJ. Primary Examiner Andrew R Juhasz [73] Assignee: Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, NJ. Assistant Exam ner-Gary L. Smith Attorney-Marvin Trimas [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 27,665 ABSTRACT A mechanism is provided for selectively engaging and disen- 52 us. Cl ..3o/34.1, 30/4392 gaging the auxiliary s hair trimmer of an electric y shaver 511 lnt.Cl ..B26b 19/10 to the shaver drive means- The g hair trimmer, which is [58] Field of Search ..30/34.1, 42, 43.92, 44, 45, driven y he ame source as is the main shaving head of the 30/195 shaver, may be engaged or disengaged at any time whether or not the shaver is energized.

f t [56] Re ed 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,412,463 ll/1968 Rpndzatis 1 V Patented Feb. 29, 1912 v 3,644,990 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BYWM ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Zffifly 6%00/(55 W aw ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,644,990

3 Sheeti-Shaet I INVENTOR l II. 1]. 1520) 679004219 64 6'5 BY j 0/ 66 64 I; v Zia/M44 W ATTORNEY it is possible to cwrcn MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a mechanism which is employed to selectively engage or disengage the auxiliary long hair trimmer of an electric dry shaver to the shaver drive means.

The use of auxiliary long hair trimmers on electric dry shavers has long been known in the art. Such trimmers in mens shavers have proven particularly suitable for cutting and trimming sideburns and mustaches. In addition, such auxiliary trimmers have been employed with considerable success in ladies shavers for removing underarm hair and for trimming some of the shorter hair styles in vogue today.

However, in some of these prior art electric dry shavers, the auxiliary long hair trimmer was energized and driven at the same time and by the same driving means as was the facial shaving mechanism. Consequently, this particular prior art shaver suffered from the disadvantage of having both its main facial shaving mechanism and auxiliary long hair trimmer in constant simultaneous operation.

Another decided disadvantage resulting from simultaneous operation of both cutting mechanisms was revealed by the recent rise to popularity of the cordless" or battery-operated shaver. The obvious increased load on the batteries, as a direct consequence of the simultaneous operation, caused more frequent battery charging and a concomitant degradation in battery life and performance.

In other similar prior art shavers, the auxiliary long hair tr'im'mer was actuated by reversing the position of the shaver head structure on the body of the shaver. This attempt at providing the shaver user with the ability to selectively activate and deactivate the long hair trimmer suffered, however, from several disadvantages, foremost of which was the need for shifting the shaver head, at least once during every shaving operation, if it was desired to use the long hair trimmer.

In still other similar prior art shavers of the type described, selectively engage the long hair trimmer by merely sliding a switch or prior art devices, the main facial hair shaving mechanism and the auxiliary long hair trimmer are disposed and driven at generally right angles to each other. This perpendicular arrangement, however, frustrated sound engineering practice and economies which dictate that the two cutting mechanisms of this type of electric dry shaver be driven by the same source, To overcome this inherent defect, complex, expensive and sometimes unreliable power transmission means are employed to effect movement of the long hair trimmer by the common power source. This means of selectively driving the long hair trimmer, however, did little more than exchange one set of problems for another.

In still other similar prior art shavers, the long hair trimmer is driven parallel to the main facial hair shaving mechanism and is selectively engaged and disengaged by a complicated clutch mechanism. The problems encountered in these mechanisms are that they are complex and expensive of manufacture. Additionally, such devices are normally used to transmit motion from the driving means to the trimmer, andconsequently, are subject to deterioration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved electric dry shaver wherein the auxiliary long hair trimmer thereof can be selectively engaged and disengaged.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a low-cost and simple-to-operate mechanism for use in selectively engaging and disengaging the auxiliary long hair trimmer of an electric dry shaver.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reliable mechanism for use in selectively engaging and disengaging the auxiliary long hair trimmer of an electric dry shaver, wherein the trimmer will not be actuated unless and until the mechanism is activated.

a lever. In these particular types of A further object of this invention is the provision of a mechanism which upon engagement thereof with the trimmer, the trimmer will be disengaged from the driving means; and which upon disengagement thereof with the trimmer, the trimmer will be engaged with the driving means.

A further object is the provision of a mechanism which is used to cause coupling of the long hair trimmer to the drive means without transmitting motion, and therefore is not subject to wear.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved electric dry shaver which incorporates the present invention and is reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe to use.

Accordingly, there is provided an electric dry shaver which is fitted with a slidably mounted button. A portion of the button projects inwardly of the shaver and carries a camming element thereupon which moves in the same direction and at the same time as the button. A pivotally mounted element, one portion of which is in driving engagement with the movably mounted cutter of the long hair trimmer, and another portion of which removably captures a reciprocating drive pin, is disposed within the shaver head at a point responsive to movement of the button. In one extreme position, the reciprocating drive pin is positively captured by the pivotally mounted element causing the long hair trimmer cutter to be reciprocally driven. Movement of the slidably mounted button to its other extreme position frees the drive pin which, in turn, brings about the selective disengagement of the long hair trimmer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric dry shaver embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the electric dry shaver shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section of the shaver head of the electric dry shaver shown in FIG. I, with the auxiliary long hair trimmer disengaged;

FIG. 4 is a side view,'partly in section of the shaver head of the electric dry shaver shown in FIG. 1, with the auxiliary long hair trimmer shown in its engaged position, taken along line 4-4 of FIG 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the shaver head taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the shaver along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the long hair trimmer clutch mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partly in section, of the shaver head showing an alternative embodiment of the instant invention with the auxiliary long hair trimmer shown in its engaged position;

FIG. 9 is a side view, partly in section, of the shaver head showing an alternative embodiment of the instant invention with the auxiliary long hair trimmer disengaged;

FIG. 10 is a side view, partly in section, of the shaver head taken alongline 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the long hair trimmer clutch mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals have been employed in the several views for like parts, FIG. 1 shows an electric dry shaver embodying the instant invention.

The electric dry shaver 10, which may be powered from a source of household current or by batteries, is energized by on-off" switch 11. Switch 11, when moved to its on position, causes an electric motor (not shown) of a type well known in the art to be energized. The motor is mounted within the motor housing or lower section 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the motor has two drive pins 13 and 14 extending therefrom. Drive pin 13 extends generally vertically from the motor housing section 12 and removably supports the main facial hair cutting assembly 15. The details of a typical facial hair cutting head taken assembly can be found, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,873,520 entitled Power Driven Shaver and Hair Trimmer" issued Feb. 17, 1959. The cutting assembly is reciprocated back and forth in operation in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane of FIG. 3. A spring 13a of predetermined height encircles driven pin 13 and presses against the underside of the cutter assembly 15 to urge it into contact with the shearing foil 16. The shearing foil is formed of a thin, flexible, metal sheet and is bent, as best shown in FIG. 1, around the cutter assembly 15. Drive pin 14 extends generally horizontally, but above the motor housing section 12.

Removably secured to the motor housing section 12, in any well-known suitable manner, is the shaver head section 17. This section is formed of generally upstanding walls 18, 19, and 21. The cutter assembly 15 and shearing foil 16 project upwardly between the upstanding walls 18, 19, 20 and 21 with the shearing foil being removably secured to the inner surfaces of walls 18 and 20 in any suitable well-known manner. An example of this is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,008 entitled Shaving Apparatus Head which issued Aug. 30, 1966.

Button 22 projects through opening 23 formed in front wall 18 of the shaver head section 17. A portion 24 of the button 22 projects through opening 23 into the shaver head section itself. A cam element 25 having an opening 26 therein is secured to button projection 24 by peening over the end portion 27 of projection 14 after element 25 is placed thereupon. As is best shown in FIG. 7, the upper edge of element 25 describes two flat or horizontal portions 28 and 29 and an inclined portion 30 therebetween. lnterposed between flat portion 28 and the highest point of incline 30 is a notch 31. Carried by element 25 is cam follower 32, the width of which generally corresponds to the separation between the flats 28 and 29. The follower 32 is constrained to vertical movement only by any known expedient such as a slot for example. A detent 33 projects from cam follower 32 and corresponds in shape to notch 31.

Coupling element 34 is disposed within the shaver head section 17 adjacent the cam follower 32. In operation as will be hereinafter explained, cam follower 32 pushes against an arm 35 of the coupling element 34. The arm 35 has a cup shaped elbow 36 formed therein and a horizontal end portion 37. As is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, arm 35 projects outwardly towards front wall 18. The twin tabs 38 and 39 which form the top portion of actuating element 34 are bent over to form circular loops 40. The lower portion of the coupling element 34, is formed by legs 41 and 42 spaced apart from each other to form the semicircular notch 43. The width of notch 43 is chosen slightly larger than the diameter of drive pin 14.

The auxiliary long hair trimmer, indicated generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 44, arranged is comprised of a comb 45 which has a plurality of teeth 46 arranged along one longitudinal edge thereof. The comb 45 is held fast by screws 47 in spaced relation to a shelf (not shown) formed in the shaver head section 17. A movable cutter 48 is interposed between the comb 45 and the shelf. The cutter 48 is also provided with a plurality of teeth 49 which are preferably of a slightly different pitch than teeth 46 formed in comb 45. The cutter 48 is also provided with two generally rectangular slots 49a through which pass the fastening screws 47. The edge of cutter 48, opposite to that having teeth 49 formed therein, has tabs 50, 51 and 52 bent circularly under cutter 48, as is best shown in FIG. 7, to form sleeves 53. The horizontal distance between tabs 50, 51 and 52 corresponds to the width of tabs 38 and 39, respectively. A spring 54 rests within the elbow 36 formed in arm 35. One end 55 of spring 54 is bent parallel to its major axis and rests immediately below the curved loop formed by tab 39. The other end 56 of spring 54 is bent perpendicular to its major axis and rests on the arm 35. The coupling element 34 is pivotally joined to the cutter 48 by passing hinge pin 57 through the coils of spring 54 and journals and 53, respectively, which also fixes the position of spring 54. It should be noted that spring 54 normally urges arm 35 away from cutter 48.

In operation, switch 11 is formed to its on position thereby energizing the shaver and setting drive pins 13 and 14 respectively, into reciprocating motion. In describing the operation of the mechanism it will be assumed that slide button 22 has been left in the position shown in FIG. 4. In this position, the cam element 25 is moved to a point where the flat portion 29 is directly below the detent 33. This positions the cam follower 32 at the lowest position of its travel and causes its top surface to disengage from the horizontal end portion 37, which frees the coupling element 34 from restriction by the cam follower 32. As previously stated, spring 54 urges the arm 35 of coupling element 34 inwardly toward drive pin 14 about the hinge pin 57. In this position, drive pin 14 is securely grasped between legs 41 and 42 of the coupling element 34. The end portions 41a and 42a of legs 41 and 42 are bent inwardly to insure the positive capture of drive pin 14 as it is reciprocated. Pivotal movement of coupling element 34 will cause the cutter 48 to be reciprocated via the hinge coupling formed by the contiguous sleeves 40 and 53 and hinge pin 57.

To uncouple the coupling element 34 from the drive pin 14, the button 22 is moved to its other extreme position. This causes the cam follower 32 to ride up the ramp portion 30. At the point where the detent 33 is inserted into the groove 31, the top surface of the cam follower 32 contacts the horizontal end portion 37, and rotates the coupling element 34 outwardly from the drive pin 14 (counter to the urging of the spring 54) causing an uncoupling. The coupling element 34 will remain in this position until the button 22 is moved to its other extreme position to engage the coupling element 34 to the drive pin 14.

Referring to FIGS. 8-11, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The general configuration and function of the elements noted are similar to those in the prior embodiment with the following exceptions. The cam follower 32a is smaller in width than the cam surface 25a, and is sandwiched between the cam surface 250 and the wall 18. This permits relative movement between the camming surface 25a and cam follower 32a and at the same time prevents the cam follower 32a from slipping off the cam surface 25a. The upper portion 32b of the cam follower is bent toward the drive pin 14 to facilitate contact with the arm 37a. As best seen in FIG. 11, the cutter 48a is provided with a rectangular cutout 60. The rectangular ledge 61 is slightly smaller in length than the cutout 60 to allow insertion therein. The spring 54a is bent into two symmetrical hooklike sections 63, 64. The spring 540 is fitted around the coupling element 41b such that the section 64 bears against the corner 65, and the section 63 is inserted into the cutouts 62 and bears against the underside of the cutter 48a. The spring 540 resiliently biases the coupling element 34a, causing it to rotate toward the drive pin 14, upon release by the cam follower 32a.

The operation of the embodiment herein described is similar to that described for the initial embodiment.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, and therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes.

I claim:

1. In an electric dry shaver of the type comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a prime mover mounted within said housing;

c. facial hair cutting means mounted on said housing driven by said prime mover;

d. a selectively engageable long hair trimmer driven by said prime mover; the improvement which comprises:

e. first means to couple said long hair trimmer to said prime mover; and

f. second means to selectively disengage said first means from said prime mover wherein upon engagement of said second means with said first means, said first means is disengaged from said prime mover, and upon disengagement of said second means from said first means, said first means is engaged with said prime mover.

2. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a connecting piece attached to a reciprocating blade of said long hair trimmer biased such that upon engagement thereof by said second means, said connecting piece is disengaged from said prime mover, and which upon disengagement thereof from said second means, said connecting means is engaged with said prime mover thereby transmitting oscillatory movement from the prime mover to 1 said reciprocating blade.

3. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 2 in which said connecting piece comprises a notch the central opening of which is capable of capturing a drive pin of said prime mover and attached to said notch is an arm.

4. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 3 wherein said am is integral with and is angularly disposed to said notch.

5. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 1 wherein said second means comprising:

a. a movable button attached to said housing;

b. urging means attached to said first means which urges said first means toward engagement with said prime mover;

c. a cam surface attached to said button;

d. a cam follower driven by said cam surface such that when said cam surface is in a first position said cam follower is urged against said first means disengaging it from said prime mover, and when said cam surface is moved to a second position said cam follower disengages from said first means enabling said urging means to urge said first means into engagement with said prime mover.

6. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 5 in which said urging means is a resilient spring.

7. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 5 in which said cam comprises at least two sections angularly disposed to one another enabling said cam follower to contact with said first means.

8. An electric shaver as recited in claim 5 in which said cam follower is sandwiched between said cam surface and said movable button. 

1. In an electric dry shaver of the type comprising: a. a housing; b. a prime mover mounted within said housing; c. facial hair cutting means mounted on said housing driven by said prime mover; d. a selectively engageable long hair trimmer driven by said prime mover; the improvement which comprises: e. first means to couple said long hair trimmer to said prime mover; and f. second means to selectively disengage said first means from said prime mover wherein upon engagement of said second means with said first means, said first means is disengaged from said prime mover, and upon disengagement of said second means from said first means, said first means is engaged with said prime mover.
 2. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a connecting piece attached to a reciprocating blade of said long hair trimmer biased such that upon engagement thereof by said second means, said connecting piece is disengaged from said prime mover, and which upon disengagement thereof from said second means, said connecting means is engaged with said prime mover thereby transmitting oscillatory movement from the prime mover to said reciprocating blade.
 3. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 2 in which said connecting piece comprises a notch the central opening of which is capable of capturing a drive pin of said prime mover and attached to said notch is an arm.
 4. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 3 wherein said arm is integral with and is angularly disposed to said notch.
 5. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 1 wherein said second means comprising: a. a movable button attached to said housing; b. urging means attached to said first means which urges said first means toward engagement with said prime mover; c. a cam surface attached to said button; d. a cam follower driven by said cam surface such that when said cam surface is in a first position said cam follower is urged against said first means disengaging it from said prime mover, and when said cam surface is moved to a second position said cam follower disengages from said first means enabling said urging means to urge said first means into engagement with said prime mover.
 6. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 5 in which said urging means is a resilient spring.
 7. An electric dry shaver as recited in claim 5 in which said cam comprises at least two sections angularly disposed to one another enabling said cam follower to contact with said first means.
 8. An electric shaver as recited in claim 5 in which said cam follower is sandwiched between said cam surface and said movable button. 